“The idea behind this book is: There was no book about Pinocchio sundae in Germany, so we wanted to do one. Now there is a book about Pinocchio sundae in Germany.” And it turned out to be very entertaining. “Mostro” is the name, Italian for “monster”, which fits when you look at the pictures of the cute monsters that Leonhard Hieronymi and Christian Metzler were served on their absurd road trip through Germany’s ice cream parlors. The creations all have one thing in common: “However, the sundae never looks like it does on the ice cream menu.”
Sometimes the authors got nothing because they didn’t want to “build” Pinocchio ice cream for two grown men – both of whom were born in 1987. They are surprised that they didn’t see a single child eat a Pinocchio during the whole trip. Most children would have two scoops on their plate, with a waffle, nothing more. “The child desires simplicity, simplicity, simplicity”.
The two authors visited 125 ice cream parlors in all 16 federal states in nine days; in 91 they received a Pinocchio sundae. The daily record was 13 Pinocchio sundaes. This and other statistical information about the trip can be found in a small appendix that follows the sugar-coated trip report.
“We want to pronounce his name, PINOCCHIO, out loud and in variations, for example PEINOTSCHAINO or PINOH-DSCHINO. He has completely penetrated us,” it says. While reading you already have the taste of smarties, cream and chocolate sprinkles in your mouth and get thirsty from all the sugar. This book makes you want to go on a road trip, on absurd journeys, on time with close friends, with whom eating dozens of Pinocchio sundaes makes sense.
The craving for Pinocchio ice cream has been satisfied for the time being
Leonhard Hieronymi and Christian Metzler seem to have satisfied their craving for Pinocchio ice cream since their trip last summer. “I don’t think Leo has eaten any more Pinocchio, but at least normal ice cream,” says Christian Metzler when asked. He himself ate Pinocchio ice cream last week for a TV report about “Mostro”. The two are currently in demand with their book. Understandable now that there is a book about Pinocchio ice cream in Germany.
“Mostro. Pinocchio ice cream in Germany” by Leonhard Hieronymi and Christian Metzler. Starfruit, 192 pages, 25 euros